Origin
Gaithersburg, MD
Late night in Gaithersburg on Sunday
Local time
12:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Gaithersburg, MD to Greenbelt, MD
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
37m
Distance
25.8 mi
42 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 34m
★
6 AM
0h 37m
8 AM
0h 43m
10 AM
0h 39m
12 PM
0h 39m
3 PM
0h 39m
5 PM
0h 43m
8 PM
0h 35m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gaithersburg, MD
Kristopher Hines
Greenbelt, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Gaithersburg to Greenbelt, Maryland, covers a straightforward 25.8-mile stretch that typically takes about 37 minutes to complete. Because this journey is well within the range of a standard morning or afternoon commute, it is perfectly suited for a single-day trip. You can expect to spend approximately $4 on fuel for the entire drive, making it a budget-friendly option for your schedule. Both locations are situated in the Northeast region, keeping the transit consistent across familiar Maryland territory. Since there are no mandatory stops required, you have the flexibility to head straight to your destination without needing an overnight stay.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Capital Beltway | 12.2 mi | 15m |
| I 270 | 9.4 mi | 12m |
| Eisenhower Memorial Highway | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| Crescent Road | 1 mi | 2m |
| West Diamond Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Kenilworth Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Chestnut Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North Frederick Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Capital Beltway
— 12.2 mi, about 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gaithersburg, MD and Greenbelt, MD.
1
Start on this road
85 ft
·
12 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto MD 355
251 ft
·
12 sec
·
North Frederick Avenue
3
Turn left onto Chestnut Street
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
Chestnut Street
Use the left lane.
4
Turn right onto MD 117
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Diamond Avenue
Use the right lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward I 270 South: Washington
6
Merge onto I 270
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Eisenhower Memorial Highway
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 270
6.6 mi
·
9 min
·
I 270
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 270
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
I 270
Toward I 270 South: Silver Spring, College Park
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
9
Merge onto I 495
12 mi
·
15 min
·
Capital Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
Exit 23
Toward MD 201: Greenbelt, Bladensburg
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
292 ft
·
11 sec
Toward MD 201 North: Kenilworth Avenue, Greenbelt
Use the left lane.
12
Turn straight onto MD 201
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
·
Kenilworth Avenue
13
Turn right onto Crescent Road
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Crescent Road
14
Arrive at destination
Crescent Road
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 24.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Chestnut Street
Turn left onto Chestnut Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
2.5 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 270
Keep slight left at fork onto I 270
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
9.1 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
I 270
Keep slight left at fork onto I 270 toward I 270 South: Silver Spring, College Park
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Toward I 270 South: Silver Spring, College Park
8
24.1 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Take the exit toward MD 201: Greenbelt, Bladensburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 23
Toward MD 201: Greenbelt, Bladensburg
8
24.4 mi into trip
|
~33m in
Keep slight left at fork toward MD 201 North: Kenilworth Avenue, Greenbelt
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward MD 201 North: Kenilworth Avenue, Greenbe...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.28 one way
$8.55 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $4.68 | $9.37 |
| premium | $4.93 | $5.00 | $10.01 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.70 | $11.39 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.7 | 0 | $2.71 | $1.24 |
| Efficient EV | 6.5 | 0 | $2.26 | $1.03 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.3 | 0 | $3.61 | $1.65 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Greenbelt, MD
Late night in Greenbelt on Sunday
Local time
12:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
4 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
37m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed driving experience as you navigate between these two Maryland hubs. You will spend roughly 36% of your time on the highway, utilizing I-270, the Eisenhower Memorial Highway, and the Capital Beltway to bridge the distance. The most significant portion of your time behind the wheel involves a 12.2-mile stretch on the Capital Beltway, which serves as the primary backbone of the route. While the drive transitions between major interstates, the overall feel is that of a standard regional transit route rather than a scenic getaway. Staying alert is key, as the flow of traffic can shift significantly once you transition from local roads onto the busier interstate sections.
36% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12.2 mi on Capital Beltway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Chestnut Street.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 25.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 37m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Chestnut Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.5 miles (I 270): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.1 miles (I 270): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Gaithersburg, MD and Greenbelt, MD, road signs point toward College Park and Bladensburg.
College Park
9.1 mi in
|
~13m
|
via I 270
Bladensburg
24.1 mi in
|
~32m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 37m. Total distance: 25.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (36%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 12.2 miles on Capital Beltway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Greenbelt, MD before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Chestnut Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.5 miles (I 270): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.1 miles (I 270): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail and Monocacy National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Greenbelt, MD before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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